Michiana  Astronomical  Society

Michiana Star Party  (2025)

Dates: 2025 Dates are:  Oct 23rd - 26th 2025

Details: MSP15

Notice: Standard Covid-19 precautions will be observed per current CDC and local government requirements.

Welcome,

The Michiana Astronomical Society is an Astronomy club based in the South Bend/Mishawaka Indiana area.

 We meet in the third Thursday of the month @ 7:00PM. 

 Starting on Dec 19th meetings take place at the Technology Resource Center (TRC) in South Bend’s Ignition Park. 1165 Franklin St. #100
South Bend, IN 46601

Thursday Dec 18th, 2025

The meeting will be held in person. 7:00pm Eastern (+Zoom)

Speaker: TBD

Subject: Open Forum

 2020 MAS Calendars are now available. $Free just $2.00 shipping or $2.80 shipping for two.

To order: Contact Linda Marks and Steve Accuosti sunandmoonobs@juno.com

 We meet in the third Thursday of the month @ 7:00PM.

Starting on Dec 19th meetings take place at the Technology Resource Center (TRC) in South Bend’s Ignition Park. 1165 Franklin St. #100
South Bend, IN 46601

 We are excited to announce our upcoming Astronomy Night event in partnership with River St. Joe in Buchanan, Michigan. This special evening will take place on Friday, the 22nd of November, from 6 to 9 p.m. Members bringing telescopes are asked to try to arrive by 4:45 p.m. for setup and organization.

We have scheduled a contingency date for Saturday, November 23, in the event of cloudy or rainy weather.

Saturday Stargazing @ Indiana Dunes National Park (Lakeshore) - Cost: Free

Next Indiana Dunes event: May 3th 8:30-10:30p.m. CDT

Indiana Dunes National Park (Lakeshore) is having a stargazing restarting on Saturday September 9th, 2023. The program will take place at the Kemil Parking Lot, near Beverly Shores, one of the Dark Sky Communities. That location is one of the darkest spots between Chicago and Michigan City. The address to plug into gps is "Kemil Beach, Beverly Shores, IN 46304, or GPS Coordinates - 041.40.39N 087.00.35W.   "Kemil Beach and Dune Ridge Trail Parking Lot"

Stargazing outreach at the Indiana Dunes National Park (Lakeshore) Kemil Beach parking lot. Next event Saturday May 3th 8:30-10:30p.m. CDT.

The program is weather dependent, so check back the Saturday of the event.  Here is wishing you Clear Skies!

Contact  Julie Larsen for additional details (219) 395-1821.

Click on the image below to enlarge it.

LaPorte County Library Astronomy outreach event:

April 24th 2024 6-8PM

Union Mills branch
3727 W 800 S
Union Mills, IN 46382

Current participants: Matt Bielski - Jim Hopkins - Mark Listello -  Dan Utroske -  Eileen Surowiec - Paul Surowiec

If you wish to participate you need to let me know, so a background check can be performed. information@michiana-astro.org

Target audience is grammar school kids.

https://www.laportelibrary.org/locations/union-mills

2024 Science Alive @ Saint Joseph County Main Library  - Saturday February 10th - 10am-4pm Eastern

Notre Dame Science

We've got the moon on our minds This Saturday, October 14, a "ring of fire" annular eclipse will cross our sky, with partial viewing. An annular solar eclipse happens when the moon, at or near its farthest point from the earth, passes between the earth and the sun. Saturday's annular eclipse will cover about 90% of the sun in the southwest United States, and about 40% in South Bend. We are excited to host multiple events featuring eclipse education! Explore Eclipses in the Digital Visualization Theater on Tuesday, October 10, and Wednesday, October 11, at 6:30 pm and 8 pm on both days. DVT director Keith Davis, Ph.D., will take you on a flight around the Earth-Moon system to learn how eclipses happen in our 50-foot domed planetarium. Free and open to the public! Learn more: https://bit.ly/3Q6XCb5 Solar Eclipse Watch Party (with telescopes!) on Saturday, Oct. 14: Weather permitting, the Physics and Astronomy Department will have telescopes and eclipse glasses available when the eclipse starts at 11:39 a.m. The watch party will conclude once the moon has completely moved out of the sun’s path at 2:24 p.m. https://bit.ly/3tpAtaZCheck out our Facebook events to RSVP to either (or both!) of these events.

Astronomy at River St. Joe - Outreach Event

Saturday 10/28/2023 - 6:00 - 8:00PM EDT

15475 Walton Road Buchanan, MI, 49107 United States

https://www.riversaintjoe.com/event-list/astronomy-night-at-river-st-joe

 On the Shores of Lake Michigan - Outreach Event - with The Well Spiritual Center

Wednesday 9/27/2023

Indiana Dunes National Park - Kemil Beach - parking lot

Wednesday 9/27/2023 - 7:30 Central time

 Potato Creek Astronomy Program  (Potato Creek State Park)

This event no longer takes place.

TBD - New Carlisle Library Astronomy Program  - Cost: The event is free

This is from Roanna Hootten, of the New Carlisle Library:   "Because of the ever changing nature of Covid, we are postponing in person August/September programs."   So we are looking forward to trying to do this event next spring. Stay tuned! Keep enjoying the views through your own telescopes.

All of our planned public talks for this semester will now be streamed live online and held in person. These can be accessed on Youtube as well as on Zoom using the connection details below:
Our Universe Revealed Youtube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/OurUniverseRevealed
Connect using Zoom (instructions for how to install the Zoom client and connect to the talk can be found at https://bit.ly/2xbGZVs) – https://notredame.zoom.us/j/97890956656 (Meeting ID is 978-9095-6656, Password: NDUniverse).

We will aim to follow our usual event format with a 30-40 minute presentation followed by time for audience questions. Questions can be asked through both Youtube and Zoom platforms at any time during the talk and we will collate and respond to them at the end of the talk.

I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support with the series in these challenging times. Through the power of technology we will do all we can to keep educating our students, our neighbors and the Notre Dame community whether close by or further afield.

If you think this and our other events would be of interest to any of your friends, family or colleagues, please feel free to forward this email on to them so they are able to join us.

Jonathan Crass
Series Coordinator

Our Universe Revealed - Next talk: There are currently no future talks scheduled. Please check again at a later dat

View more talks & full details

Note: Due to limited space, Tickets are required for some events but are typically free of charge.

 Recent News / Activities:
December 18 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid - Matt Bielski - Photographing Nightscapes Part 2
December 21 - Ursids Meteor Shower with New Moon (great)
December 21 - December Solstice
January 2 - Quadrantids Meteor Shower with Full Moon (poor)
January 10 - Jupiter at Opposition
January 15 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid - Open Forum - TRC Flex Space, 1165 Franklin St. #100 South Bend, IN 46601


Kemil Beach Stargazing, Indiana Dunes National Park (Lakeshore), Beverly Shores, IN 46304
TBD


Mercury and Venus Observation 2026
December 7 - Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation - View in morning
February 19 - Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation - View in evening
April 3 - Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation - View in morning
June 15 - Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation - View in evening
August 2 - Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation - View in morning
August 15 - Venus at Greatest Eastern Elongation - View in evening
October 12 - Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation - View in evening
November 20 - Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation - View in morning

Planetary Oppositions (Closest Approach for 2026)
September 25 - Neptune at Opposition
October 4 - Saturn at Opposition
November 25 - Uranus at Opposition

Planetary Conjunctions 2026
February 15 - Conjunction of Saturn and Neptune 54'
February 26 - Conjunction of Venus and Mercury 4°41'
March 7 - Conjunction of Venus and Neptune 4'26"
March 8 - Conjunction of Venus and Saturn 1°00'
March 14 - Conjunction of Mars and Mercury 3°57'
April 13 - Conjunction of Mars and Neptune 20'
April 16 - Conjunction of Mercury and Neptune 1°25'
April 19 - Conjunction of Mercury and Mars 1°48'
April 20 - Conjunction of Mercury and Saturn 30'
April 20 - Conjunction of Saturn and Mars 1°18'
April 24 - Conjunction of Venus and Uranus 46'
June 9 - Conjunction of Venus and Jupiter 1°38'
July 4 - Conjunction of Mars and Uranus 6'26"
August 15 - Conjunction of Jupiter and Mercury 33'
October 5 - Conjunction of Venus and Mercury 5°26'
November 14 - Conjunction of Jupiter and Mars 1°14'

2026 Meteor Showers
April 21 - Lyrids Meteor Shower with Waxing Crescent Moon (great)
May 5 - Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower with Waning Gibbous Moon (poor)
July 30 - Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower with Full Moon (poor)
August 12 - Perseid Meteor Shower with New Moon (great!)
October 7 - Draconids Meteor Shower with Waning Crescent Moon (great)
October 21 - Orionids Meteor Shower with Waxing Gibbous Moon (poor)
November 12 - Taurids Meteor Shower with Waxing Crescent Moon (great)
November 16 - Leonids Meteor Shower with First Quarter Moon (great)
December 13 - Geminids Meteor Shower with Waxing Crescent Moon (good)
December 21 - Ursids Meteor Shower with Waxing Gibbous Moon (poor)

2026 All Upcoming Events
February 7 - Science Alive! - SJCPL Main Library 10:00-4:00
February 15 - Conjunction of Saturn and Neptune 54'
February 19 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid - TRC Flex Space, 1165 Franklin St. #100 South Bend, IN 46601
February 19 - Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation - View in evening
February 26 - Conjunction of Venus and Mercury 4°41'
March 3 - Total Lunar Eclipse, South Bend (03:44-07:19Max-06:33)
March 7 - Conjunction of Venus and Neptune 4'26"
March 8 - Conjunction of Venus and Saturn 1°00'
March 14 - Conjunction of Mars and Mercury 3°57'
March 19 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid - TRC Flex Space, 1165 Franklin St. #100 South Bend, IN 46601
March 20 - March Equinox
April 3 - Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation - View in morning
April 13 - Conjunction of Mars and Neptune 20'
April 16 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid - TRC Flex Space, 1165 Franklin St. #100 South Bend, IN 46601
April 16 - Conjunction of Mercury and Neptune 1°25'
April 19 - Conjunction of Mercury and Mars 1°48'
April 20 - Conjunction of Mercury and Saturn 30'
April 20 - Conjunction of Saturn and Mars 1°18'
April 21 - Lyrids Meteor Shower with Waxing Crescent Moon (great)
April 24 - Conjunction of Venus and Uranus 46'
May 5 - Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower with Waning Gibbous Moon (poor)
May 14 - Tentative - Michiana Star Party 16 (MSP16) - 5/14-17 Location TBD
May 21 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid - TRC Flex Space, 1165 Franklin St. #100 South Bend, IN 46601
June 9 - Conjunction of Venus and Jupiter 1°38'
June 15 - Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation - View in evening
June 18 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid - TRC Flex Space, 1165 Franklin St. #100 South Bend, IN 46601
June 21 - June Solstice
July 4 - Conjunction of Mars and Uranus 6'26"
July 16 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid - TRC Flex Space, 1165 Franklin St. #100 South Bend, IN 46601
July 30 - Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower with Full Moon (poor)
August 2 - Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation - View in morning
August 12 - Total Solar Eclipse, Partial in South Bend (13:13-13:49Max13:31) <1%
August 12 - Perseid Meteor Shower with New Moon (great!)
August 15 - Venus at Greatest Eastern Elongation - View in evening
August 15 - Conjunction of Jupiter and Mercury 33'
August 20 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid - TRC Flex Space, 1165 Franklin St. #100 South Bend, IN 46601
August 27 - Partial Lunar Eclipse, South Bend (21:23-03:01Max00:12) 
September 10 - Tentative - Michiana Star Party 17 (MSP17) - 9/10-13 Location TBD
September 17 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid - TRC Flex Space, 1165 Franklin St. #100 South Bend, IN 46601
September 22 - September Equinox
September 25 - Neptune at Opposition
October 4 - Saturn at Opposition
October 5 - Conjunction of Venus and Mercury 5°26'
October 7 - Draconids Meteor Shower with Waning Crescent Moon (great)
October 12 - Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation - View in evening
October 15 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid - TRC Flex Space, 1165 Franklin St. #100 South Bend, IN 46601
October 21 - Orionids Meteor Shower with Waxing Gibbous Moon (poor)
November 12 - Taurids Meteor Shower with Waxing Crescent Moon (great)
November 14 - Conjunction of Jupiter and Mars 1°14'
November 16 - Leonids Meteor Shower with First Quarter Moon (great)
November 19 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid - TRC Flex Space, 1165 Franklin St. #100 South Bend, IN 46601
November 20 - Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation - View in morning
November 25 - Uranus at Opposition
December 13 - Geminids Meteor Shower with Waxing Crescent Moon (good)
December 17 - MAS Meeting - Hybrid - TRC Flex Space, 1165 Franklin St. #100 South Bend, IN 46601
December 21 - Ursids Meteor Shower with Waxing Gibbous Moon (poor)
December 21 - December Solstice


Resources:
Launches
See https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/

Notre Dame Our Universe Revealed Presentations - Leighton Auditorium SJCPL Main, 6:30 pm
https://universerevealed.nd.edu/upcoming-talks/

Notre Dame Michiana Science Café - Chicory Cafe, 105 E Jefferson Blvd #103, South Bend, IN 46601
https://sites.nd.edu/spi-club/events/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/michianasciencecafe

Conjunctions
https://in-the-sky.org/article.php?term=conjunction&year=202

A recent article in the South Bend Tribune about local Stargazing. Click here to read it: (July 26, 2018 SBT article)

Previous Event - Febuary 4th, 2017 - Science Alive

MAS again participated in Science Alive at the St Joseph county library.

2023/2024 MAS officers are:

Bruce Miller - President

Matt Bielski - Vice President

Mike Hensley - Secretary (Chuck Buter - backup Secretary)

Paul Surowiec - Treasurer, Webmaster,  & Alcor

Marc Listello - Member at Large

Many thanks to our previous officers and their service to the Michiana Astronomical Society, it members and the community.

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Next solar eclipse - It will not be visible in North America